Barcelona reach verbal agreement to sign midfield maestro: How will he fit in under Xavi?

AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie is reportedly set to join Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of the season.

The Ivory Coast international, 25, joined AC Milan from Atalanta on an initial loan deal in 2017 and has made 214 appearances for the Rossoneri, scoring 36 goals. But the central midfielder will be leaving Milan in the summer as he has chosen not to sign the contract renewal offer proposed to him by Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara.

According to The Guardian, Franck Kessie has signed a four-year contract with Barcelona and has passed his medical examinations too. He will receive a net annual salary of €6.5million, excluding bonuses, and is expected to be announced as a Barcelona player shortly, the report adds.

The Ivorian has enjoyed another strong season with AC Milan, helping the club lead the Serie A standings by three points after 30 games. He has been a key cog in Stefano Pioli’s side, dishing out consistently impressive performances and chipping in with crucial goals.

Franck Kessie to Barcelona – How will he fit into their midfield?

Barcelona have been on the rise under Xavi Hernandez since the former player-turned manager replaced Ronald Koeman in November. After his side demolished Real Madrid 4-0 in the El Clasico last weekend, it won’t be too long before the Blaugrana become a force again.

Yet, Xavi knows his squad needs retooling in the next few transfer windows to get Barcelona back to where they belong. In terms of planning for the summer transfer window, the La Liga giants have been proactive and already thrashed out a deal with AC Milan star Franck Kessie.

Kessie has established himself as one of the top central midfielders in Serie A over the last couple of years, improving leaps and bounds under the tutelage of Stefano Pioli. Featuring in well over 200 games for the Rossoneri in all formats, it goes without saying that the 25-year-old has volumes of experience at the highest level.

A box-to-box midfielder by trade, Kessie is also adept at playing as a defensive midfielder and acting as a shield for the back four. He could start as an advanced 8 in a midfield three at Barcelona, competing with the likes of Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Nico Gonzalez. And the fact that he can operate in a deeper role as well as in the double-pivot makes him an even more appealing option for Xavi.

With time and proper coaching, the Ivory Coast international could be moulded into a proper no.6 at Camp Nou. The ex-Atalanta man could initially rotate with Sergio Busquets before making the defensive midfield position his own. Busquets is heading towards the twilight of his career and would need replacing at some point.

Kessie has the required qualities to replace Busquets in the long run, and Barcelona getting a top-quality player whose peak years are still ahead of him on a Bosman transfer in the summer represents a shrewd acquisition.